In this episode 257 of the employment law and HR podcast, as we reach the end of the year and the last podcast for 2025 I cover an update on the status of the Employment Rights Bill, the changes and what has been happening to delay the new law.

• The latest issue causing contention and subsequently delays in the parliamentary process.

• What the impact could be of a removal of the compensation cap for unfair dismissal claims.

• A rundown of the other changes to the Bill from the initial version published.

• What the key changes are and what employers need to be aware of.

• Why it is important to start taking action now to get ready for the new law.

There are going to be significant changes to employment rights for employees but those employers who are proactive, fair and have robust procedures and policies in place, coupled with management training will find that the risk of a claim does not increase. For employer who do nothing or think that it will not apply to them there is a significant increased risk of an employment tribunal claim.

You may also find the following helpful:

Employment Rights Bill 2024: Key information

Employment Rights Bill

Don't forget to subscribe to the podcast to stay informed on the latest in UK employment law. If you have questions or need tailored advice, feel free to get in touch – we are here to help.

Would you like to arrange training for your team to reduce the risk of both unhappy employees and claims being made against you? Please get in touch for a no obligation discussion, we can offer training anywhere in the UK in person or delivered remotely via MS Teams.

Please drop me an email alison@realemploymentlawadvice.co.uk

As part of our HR Harbour annual subscription service for employers we provide guidance and training for employers, supervisors and managers. If you would like to know more about the HR Harbour Service and how you can get unlimited support from as little as £234 per month please contact me for a no obligation discussion – alison@realemploymentlawadvice.co.uk or you can find full details here: HR Harbour

Don't forget you can contact us by telephone 01983 897003, 01722 653001, 020 3470 0007, 0191 375 9694 or 023 8098 2006

We have a variety of free documents and letters which are available to download here: DIY Documents

We are also on YouTube! You can find a range of topics and also listen to this podcast on YouTube here: YOUTUBE

Raising awareness of melanoma and skin cancer. You can find more information here: https://www.facebook.com/zoepanayilaw

In this episode 256 of the employment law and HR podcast I cover an overview of Settlement Discussions and how you can use them to resolve difficult situations in the workplace.

• When settlement discussions can be used
• The difference between 'without prejudice' conversations and 'protected conversations'
• How to safely make an offer
• What to avoid to prevent claims
• Why the frequent use can be a problem
• Practical tips on how to deal with settlement discussions

Settlement discussions can be a useful tool but care needs to be taken about how you approach the discussion and when you decide to use an offer, and the frequency with which you use settlement discussions.

You may also find the following helpful:

https://realemploymentlawadvice.co.uk/podcast/when-are-settlement-discussions-protected/

https://realemploymentlawadvice.co.uk/2025/05/27/settlement-agreements-in-employment-what-uk-employers-and-employees-need-to-know/

Don't forget to subscribe to the podcast to stay informed on the latest in UK employment law. If you have questions or need tailored advice, feel free to get in touch – we are here to help.

Would you like to arrange training for your team to reduce the risk of both unhappy employees and claims being made against you? Please get in touch for a no obligation discussion, we can offer training anywhere in the UK in person or delivered remotely via MS Teams.

Please drop me an email alison@realemploymentlawadvice.co.uk

As part of our HR Harbour annual subscription service for employers we provide guidance and training for employers, supervisors and managers. If you would like to know more about the HR Harbour Service and how you can get unlimited support from as little as £234 per month please contact me for a no obligation discussion – alison@realemploymentlawadvice.co.uk or you can find full details here: HR Harbour

Don't forget you can contact us by telephone 01983 897003, 01722 653001, 020 3470 0007, 0191 375 9694 or 023 8098 2006

We have a variety of free documents and letters which are available to download here: DIY Documents

We are also on YouTube! You can find a range of topics and also listen to this podcast on YouTube here: YOUTUBE

Raising awareness of melanoma and skin cancer. You can find more information here: https://www.facebook.com/zoepanayilaw

In this episode 255 of the employment law and HR podcast I cover an employment tribunal decision where an employee who called their manager a derogatory name was found to have been unfairly dismissed.

Although the language used was clearly inappropriate, the tribunal decided that dismissal was too severe a response. This episode unpacks why and what lessons both employers and employees can take from it.

• The facts of the case – what actually happened and how the dispute reached tribunal.
• How the tribunal assessed whether the dismissal was fair in all the circumstances.
• The importance of proportionate disciplinary action and consistent treatment.
• Why context matters – including the employee's record, workplace culture, and employer policies.
• Practical steps for managers handling misconduct or inappropriate language at work.
• What this case teaches us about the balance between respect, communication, and fairness in disciplinary processes.
• Why it is important to consider getting a third party to deal with disciplinary issues or dispute when the employee is a family member or close friend.

Even when language is offensive or unprofessional, dismissal is not automatically fair. Employers must consider all the circumstances and ensure their decision is reasonable, consistent, and procedurally sound.

Working with family can present different challenges but employment law still applies!

You can read the full judgement here: chrome-extension://efaidnbmnnnibpcajpcglclefindmkaj/https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/64ae81ed8bc29f00132ccb82/Ms_K_Herbert_v_Main_Group_Services_Ltd_3310773.2022_FMH_Reserved_Judgment.pdf

Don't forget to subscribe to the podcast to stay informed on the latest in UK employment law. If you have questions or need tailored advice, feel free to get in touch – we are here to help.

Would you like to arrange training for your team to reduce the risk of both unhappy employees and claims being made against you? Please get in touch for a no obligation discussion, we can offer training anywhere in the UK in person or delivered remotely via MS Teams.

Please drop me an email alison@realemploymentlawadvice.co.uk

As part of our HR Harbour annual subscription service for employers we provide guidance and training for employers, supervisors and managers. If you would like to know more about the HR Harbour Service and how you can get unlimited support from as little as £234 per month please contact me for a no obligation discussion – alison@realemploymentlawadvice.co.uk or you can find full details here: HR Harbour

Don't forget you can contact us by telephone 01983 897003, 01722 653001, 020 3470 0007, 0191 375 9694 or 023 8098 2006

We have a variety of free documents and letters which are available to download here: DIY Documents

We are also on YouTube! You can find a range of topics and also listen to this podcast on YouTube here: YOUTUBE

Raising awareness of melanoma and skin cancer. You can find more information here: https://www.facebook.com/zoepanayilaw